Gun bore inspecting device which includes a diffuse and a specular reflector



Jan. 21,. 1969 J, P. WEBER, JR 3,423,154

GUN BORE INSPECTING DEVICE WHICH INCLUDES A DIFFUSE AND A SPECULARREFLECTOR Filed Dec. 28, 1964 INVENTOR. JW/IV 2 n zaze JA.

Wen/MUM S United States Patent 3,423,154 GUN BORE INSPECTING DEVICEWHICH IN- CLUDES A DIFFUSE AND A SPECULAR REFLECTOR John P. Weber, Jr.,1630 Robinson Circle, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 Filed Dec. 28, 1964, Ser.No. 421,395 US. Cl. 356-241 Int. Cl. Gllln 21/16 Claim ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to devices or implements forinspecting guns, and is particularly directed to a flat reflectingarticle of manufacture used for the specific purpose of properlyinspecting, thoroughly and completely, gun bores of various calibers.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel inspecting device ofsimple inexpensive construction and of a dispensable nature.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inspection device thatis easily manipulatable, durable, and highly eflicient in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for a properand complete inspection of bores of a plurality of guns or weaponshaving various sized bores.

Another object of this invention is to provide an easily maneuverableinspecting device for use in the breech end of a gun barrel during theprocess of cleaning its bore; inspection thereof being required, and ofessentiality, from both muzzle and breech ends of the bore to assure acomplete and satisfactory cleaning.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inspecting device of alightweight, flat, compact character so that it may be convenientlystored with a weapon, carried in a pocket, enclosed in a package, or thelike, incident to use on a weapon.

These and other objects of the invention will be more apparent to thoseskilled in the particular art to which this invention pertains, upon acomplete and full reading of the following description and the appendedclaim thereto taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my inspecting device;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my device turned over about a horizontal axisfrom its position in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view with phantom lines added to showflexibility of the device;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inspecting device applied to a gunbore for the first step of inspection thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inspecting device applied to a gunbore for completion of a proper and satisfactory inspection thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

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Referring now to the drawing in which reference characters refer to likecharacters in the following description, 10 represents my novelinspecting device comprising a flat flexible member 11 having opposingor back-to-back faces 12 and 13. Faces 12 and 13 comprise sections eachof which is divided into two essential elements; face 12 comprises alight reflecting non-mirror element 16- and a mirror element 17, andface 13 comprises a mirror element 18 and a non-mirror reflectingelement 19.

The sections constituting faces 12 and 13 are defined and limited byopposed curved ends 21, 22 connected together by opposed tapering edges23, 24 generally tangent to the different arcs of curvature formingcurved ends 21, 22 of device 10. Tapering edges 23, 24 converge towardsend 21 and correlatively, diverge towards end 22. Thus, it will beapparent that the extent of introduction of either end 21, 22 of device10 into the breech of a gun bore is determined by the bore size orcaliber of the particular weapon being inspected. Further, the size ofthe gun bore being inspected provides for the determination of which ofcurved ends 21, 22 will be applied, held at, or inserted, at the breechend of the bore, for facile operation of device 10 in its inspectingchores.

The mirror elements 17, 18 comprise plate glass treated in aconventional manner to form a mirror reflecting surface and cut tosuitable dimensions for device 10. The white reflecting elements 16, 19comprise material providing for subdued reflective qualities, such aswhite plastic strips of opaque material, or of white paper board stock.

In one form of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3, 4, a backing 25comprising a fiberglass base and suitable resin binder is utilized tocombine and secure together the respective elements shown to be includedin faces 12 and 13 of device 10. In another form of the invention shownin FIG. 7, a strip 26 having the dimensions of faces 12, 13, and of asubdued reflecting nature, is provided for the purpose of functioning asreflecting material constituting elements 16, 19 of faces 12, 13,respectively, in the form illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4. Strip 26 may be ofpaper board stock or plastic material, with suitable gluing provided tomount mirror elements 27, 28 thereon in their relative positions, asshown in FIGS. 7, 1 and 2. Flexibility is included in backing 25 orinherent in plastic strip 26 so that finger manipulation of device 10 ina gun bore during an inspecting cycle is facilitated. Such flexibilityis obtained through the natural characteristics of the materialemployed, however, lack of it does not interfere with the functioning ofdevice 10 during inspection.

Each of faces 12 and 13 coextensively extend to limits relative to eachother, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Mirror element 17 of face 12 isdefined and limited to curved end 22 and extends lengthwise of device 10to substantially an edge 30 normal to the longitudinal axis of device10, preferably meeting the intersection of diverging tapering edges 23,24 and the curvature defining curved end 22. Reflecting element 19 issimilarly situated in face 13, in corresponding coextensive relationshipwith element 17, extending lengthwise of device 10 between the tip ofcurved end 22 and normal edge 30a. Edges 30, 30a are preferablycoincident with respect to each other, in the determination of thelength of elements 17, 19, however, it should 'be understood that theexact positions of each edge 30, 30a are not critical as long assuflicient longitudinal length of their respective elements 17, 19 isprovided for proper utilization and operation of device 10.

The dimensions of mirror element 18 in face 13 are limited by taperingedges 23, 24 and curved end 21. Reflective element 16 is similarlysituated in face 12, in generally corresponding coextensive relationshipwith element 18, however, its length normal to the longitudinal axis ofdevice 10 terminates at edge T lying between tapering edges 23, 24. EdgeT is preferably non-coincident with edge V of element 18, as a matteronly of conservation of use of glass material. It should be understoodthat exact positions of terminal edges T, V of corresponding elements16, 18 are not critical for operation of device 10, as long assutficient longitudinal length of the elements 16, 18 from the tip ofcurved end 21 is provided.

Thus, it is apparent that device 10 incorporates reflecting elements 16,17, 18 and 19 so correlated to each other that a complete andsatisfactory inspection results upon use of device 10 upon any one of aplurality of weapons having various sized bores, without the necessityof requiring a plurality of inspection devices each for the purpose ofinspecting a particular sized bore in a weapon.

A complete job of cleaning a particular gun bore demands visualobservation from both muzzle and breech ends thereof, to assuredetermination and absence of lead fouling, pits, metal or other foreignobjects or obstructions detrimental to a first-class condition of thebore. The action of the gun is first opened. Gun cleaning implements,such as a rod, cotton, patches, oils and the like are inserted andsuitably applied in bore 31 of a gun barrel 30, by reciprocation, etc.for absorption of and passage of dirt, lead fouling, etc., and otherforeign particles into such patches and through the bore for dischargetherefrom, all performed in a conventional fashion well known to a gunentrepreneur. Thereafter, a thorough and complete inspection of the boreis required to assure that the cleaning process was satisfactory.

For ease of illustration in the use of device 10, FIGS. 5 and 6 do notillustrate the stock of gun barrel 31, and it should be understood thatthe gun barrel 31 need not be removed from its stock for purpose ofapplication of my device 10.

In the ordinary method-of inspection, observation of bore 31 is madevisually from its muzzle end by placing a piece of white material at theguns breech. A mirror is not satisfactory in this form of inspection, asit emits too much reflected light into the bore causing intense or undueglare. The use of the white material does not reveal the condition ofthe chamber, particular- 1y those of an automatic or lever-type action,from which the bolt cannot be easily removed. Thus a white opaquereflecting material is not adequate by itself for such an inspection anda mirror reflecting element overcompensates. Consequently, the conditionof each land and groove and/or the presence of foreign objects cannot beproperly determined.

In my concept, such intense or over-compensating glare and inadequatereflection is obviated. I include in device 10, which is held only atthe breech end of the weapon, a white diffusely reflecting background,such as incorporated in reflective elements 16 and 19, with the resultthat a subdued but wholly sufiicient reflection of the interior of thebore is visually manifested upon proper use of such elements. Coupledwith use of mirror elements 17, 18, observation from both the muzzle andbreech ends provides for a thoroughly complete inspection of thecleanliness of the bores lands and grooves.

A clear, unobstructed, and non-glaring inspection results in the use ofmy device from the necessary steps of operation to ensure borecleanliness. Carrying out my concept to provide for a proper andthorough inspection, and as shown in FIG. 5 and 6, reflective element 16is inserted in the breech end of bore 31 of barrel 30, with light raysfrom a source 33 directed towards element 16 at the breech end of barrel30. End 21 is rested on the surface of bore 31. Device 10 is manipulatedto an angle with the axis of bore 31 so that the viewer 35 at the muzzleend of barrel is able to observe through bore 31 the reflection of lightrays off of element 16. Reflecting element 16 provides for a subduedreflection of the intensity of light source 33 so that a clear,nonglaring inspection of the length of bore 31 is performed by theobserver 35. To complete the cycle of inspection, device 10 is manuallymanipulated at the breech end of barrel 30 to expose mirror element 18to' observer who in turn provides for the introduction of light raysfrom source 33 into the muzzle end of barrel 30. The intensity of lightfrom source 33 is normally reduced as the result of the restriction oflight rays introduced at the muzzle. A less but nevertheless sufficientlight intensity reflects off of rnirror element 18 to provide asatisfactory inspection of bore 31 by observer 35 from the breech end ofbarrel 30.

Thus, use of device 10 as outlined in the above procedure provides for acomplete inspection of the cleanliness of a guns bore.

End 21 is manually inserted into the breech end of barrel 3t), and neednot be withdrawn until after the complete inspection has been performed.Device 10 is held at an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of the gunbarrel or bore so that curved end 21 engages and registers upon the rimof the breech end of barrel 30. The size of the caliber or gauge of theweapon in no Way impedes the functioning of mirror element 18 andreflecting element 16, for in application of device 10 to bore 31,curved end 21 is traversable about the rim of bore 31 to provide for aclear inspection by viewer 35. Flexibility of device 10 provides for asmoother manipulation there of, by the fingers holding and manueveringthe device at bore 31.

The technique and operation on large caliber weapons, such as shotgun,is carried out along the other curved end 22 of device 10 in the samemanner as described aforesaid in relation to smaller end 21. Mirrorelement 17 and subdued reflecting element 19 are provided along curvedend 22 in their respective faces 12, 13, and are manipulated in bore 31in a similar manner as was done with elements 16 and 18.

Thus, it will now be seen that an interdependency of a white backgroundand a mirror provides for a thorough and complete inspection of a gunbore, and that I have provided a simple, novel and unique device 10 bywhich such an inspection is accomplished. The shininess of a borecomplemented by an over-compensating mirror reflection when the mirroris inserted at or in the breech has too often in the past established ablinding condition to the observers eye thereby preventing properdetermination of metal, lead fouling, pits, or objects that other wiseexist in the bore and on the lands and in the grooves thereof, or inother words, the general condition of the bore. However, my device 10,properly used as aforedescribed, eliminates this disadvantage andsatisfactorily accomplishes its purpose, for knowledge of a guns boreconditions is necessary for proper and eflicient discharge of theweapon.

FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose the preferable size of my device 10, ,although itis not necessarily limited thereto. The mirror elements are preferablyor 7 in thickness. The flexibility provided in device 10 by means ofbacking 25 assures easy maneuverability of the instrument about the rimof the breech end of bore 31, in view of a tw'o-or-three-fingeredsupport for device 10. Strict rigidity in device 10 produces someawkwardness in holding device 10 in the fingers, although this does notessentially defeat the purpose for which device 10 was developed, northe functioning of its elements.

Pursuant to the requirements of the patent statutes, the principle ofthis invention has been explained and exemplified in a manner so that itcan be readily practiced by those skilled in the art, suchexemplification including what is considered to represent the bestembodiment of the invention. However, it should be clearly 5 6understood that, within the scope of the appended claim, whereby on oneof said curved ends of said flat elonthe invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifigated member is a mirror element anddiffusingly cally described and exemplified herein, by those skilledreflecting element back-to-back for use in inspecting in the art, andhaving the benefit of this disclosure. any one of a number of boresizes.

Therefore, what is claimed to be patentably novel is: 5 1. An article ofmanufacture for completely and thor- References Cited oughly inspectingany one of a number of gun bores of various sizes comprising incombination, UNITED STATES PATENTS a flat elongated member having faceportions back-to- 399 23 3 1 39 Russdl 14 back extending co-extensivelywith each other and 10 3 1 2 191 12 19 4 Canan 35 299 XR having opposedcurved ends, said curved ends being characterized by having ditfer-JEWELL PEDERSEN Primary Examiner ent arcs of curvature, a mirror elementincluded on each of said face portions 0. B. CHEW, Assistant Examiner.

and on opposing ends of said member, and 15 a difiusingly reflectingelement included on each of said face portions on the curved endopposite the mirror element,

